Page 14 of Alpha’s Vow (Copper Canyon Shifters #3)

CHAPTER 14

brYCE

T he quiet of Copper Canyon Ranch was shattered by the insistent buzz of Bryce’s phone. He stood by the paddock, the early morning sun casting long shadows over the ranch as he tightened the saddle on his horse. The name on the screen made his chest tighten—Rush.

Bryce swiped to answer. “What’s the word, Rush?”

“Got something for you,” Rush said, his tone clipped and serious. “It’s not good.”

Bryce’s grip on the phone tightened. “Go on.”

“The hunters know they’re being tracked,” Rush said, the faint sound of typing in the background. “They’ve gone underground. Shut down their usual operations, scattered their people. They’re making it damn hard to pin them down.”

Bryce exhaled sharply, his wolf bristling at the news. “So, what are we looking at?”

“A network that’s gone dark,” Rush replied. “But not quiet. They’re regrouping, Bryce. Laying low, but they’re still dangerous. If we don’t move soon, they’ll be harder to find—and harder to stop.”

Bryce glanced toward the barn, where Sable was brushing down Ghost. Her movements were steady, but he could feel the storm brewing beneath her calm exterior. She wouldn’t like this news, and he wasn’t looking forward to telling her.

“What’s your play?” Bryce asked, his voice steady despite their situation.

“I think the best one involves you and Sable. We need to flush them out,” Rush said. “The best way to do that is to make them come to you.”

Bryce’s jaw tightened and he took a deep breath. He didn’t want Rush to be right. He wanted Sable as far away from the hunters as he could get her. But he knew Rush, and he wouldn’t endanger her if he thought there was a better way. Resolved, he asked, “How?”

“Sable is the one they want. They know she’s been hunting them,” Rush said, his tone matter of fact. “And they know she has a partner—a male partner. They’ve made taking you two out a priority. You’ve been kicking the hornet’s nest, and they’re angry. We can use that to draw them out.”

Bryce’s wolf snarled inside his mind, his protective instincts flaring at the idea of putting Sable in harm’s way. But Rush was right—this was their best shot.

“You’re suggesting we use ourselves as bait,” Bryce said, his voice flat.

“Exactly,” Rush replied. “But not without backup. I’ve got a team on standby. You just need to pick the time and place.”

Bryce rubbed a hand over his jaw, his mind racing. “What’s the risk?”

Rush let out a dry laugh. “The risk? You’re putting a target on your back, Bryce. But if anyone can handle it, it’s you and Sable.”

Bryce nodded to himself, the plan already forming in his mind. “Send me everything you’ve got. We’ll make it happen.”

“Will do,” Rush said. “And Bryce—be careful. These guys don’t play fair. Make sure we know when and where.”

“They’ll regret it if they harm so much as a hair on her head,” Bryce said, his tone grim.

Bryce found Sable in the barn, her back to him as she worked methodically with Ghost. The mare seemed to sense Sable’s mood, her ears flicking nervously as Sable brushed her down with deliberate strokes. Bryce took a moment to watch her, the way the sunlight caught the tawny strands of her hair, the quiet strength in her every movement.

He stepped inside, his boots scuffing against the hay-strewn floor. Sable didn’t turn, but he knew she’d sensed him.

“What is it?” she asked, her voice calm but wary.

“Rush called,” Bryce said, his tone steady. “We’ve got intel.”

Sable paused, her hand stilling on Ghost’s rump. “And?”

“The hunters know we’re tracking them,” Bryce said. “They’ve gone to ground. But Rush has a plan.”

She turned to face him then, her eyes sharp and unflinching. “What kind of plan?”

Bryce stepped closer, his gaze steady on hers. “A trap. We play bait to draw them out.”

Sable’s eyes narrowed, her wolf flashing in their depths. “Are you insane?”

“It’s the best way to flush them out,” Bryce said, his tone calm but firm. “They’re not going to come to us unless we give them a reason.”

“Not that I don’t want to get these bastards, but do you think putting an even bigger target on our backs is the answer?” she snapped, her voice rising.

“I think it’s the only option,” Bryce countered. “Rush has a team ready to back us up. We won’t be alone.”

Sable let out a sharp breath, her fists clenching at her sides. “You’re gambling with your life, Bryce. Let me go alone. Rush can back me up…”

“Not happening. I’m going with you,” he said, his voice low and steady. “If Rush didn’t think we could end this for good, I wouldn’t even consider it.”

Her gaze didn’t waver. “And what if it goes wrong? How am I supposed to live with myself if you get hurt, or worse yet, killed.”

“That’s not going to happen. I won’t let it,” Bryce said, his eyes blazing with certainty.

Sable shook her head, her breath coming in short, angry bursts. “You arrogant bastard. You don’t know that.”

“I do know it, and you’re being stubborn,” Bryce shot back, his voice softening as he stepped closer. “But that’s why this will work. We’re in this together, Sable. Whether you like it or not.”

The bond between them pulsed with quiet intensity, the connection undeniable even as they clashed. Sable’s gaze faltered for a moment, her defenses cracking just enough for Bryce to see the fear beneath her anger.

“What if we can’t do this?” she whispered, her voice trembling.

“We can,” Bryce said, his voice firm but gentle. “And we will. Together we can take on and beat everything.”

Sable looked away, her jaw tightening as she fought to hold on to her resolve. Bryce reached out, his hand brushing her arm in a gesture that was reassuring.

“I need you to trust me,” he said quietly. “We’ll be all right.”

Sable exhaled slowly, her shoulders relaxing just enough to show her surrender. “Fine. But if this goes sideways, I’m blaming you.”

Bryce’s lips curved into a faint grin. “Fair enough.”

As they walked back toward the house, Bryce’s mind churned with the details of their plan. The risk was undeniable, but the payoff was worth it. If they could draw the hunters out, they’d have a chance to dismantle the network once and for all.

Sable’s steps were steady beside him, her presence comforting despite the intense feelings that lingered between them. Bryce glanced at her, his chest tightening with a mix of admiration and protectiveness. She was fierce, unyielding, and stronger than she realized. And he’d be damned if he let anything happen to her.

As they reached the porch, Bryce paused, his gaze steady on hers. “We’ll get through this, Sable.”

She nodded, her eyes searching his. “We’d better.”

Bryce’s wolf stirred, sensing the storm on the horizon. They had agreed to lure the hunters away from the ranch. Sable had been adamant that she would not endanger those in their pack. Instead, they would head back to Sable’s canyon. Rush had agreed; it would work well to trap the hunters. Now, all they had to do now was wait. When the hunters came, they’d be ready.

The steady bustle of the ranch faded into the background as Bryce paced the length of the porch, his thoughts churning like a storm. The sun dipped low, casting a golden haze over the fields, but Bryce barely noticed. His wolf growled uneasily, the primal instinct to protect Sable warring with the cold logic of their plan.

Using themselves as bait was dangerous. Reckless. But it was also the best chance they had to flush out the hunters and end this once and for all.

His gaze shifted to the barn, where Sable worked with one of the mustangs, her movements fluid and precise. She didn’t know he was watching, her focus entirely on the horse, but Bryce could sense her unease even from a distance. She was trying to keep busy, trying to stay calm, but the gravity of what lay ahead was bearing down on her as much as it was on him.

The sound of boots on wood pulled him from his thoughts. Colt and Landon approached, their expressions grim. Colt, ever the serious one, crossed his arms and leaned against the porch railing, his sharp eyes locked on Bryce.

“This plan of yours,” Colt began, his tone edged with disapproval. “It’s risky.”

Bryce stopped pacing, his jaw tightening. “I know.”

“Risky is putting it lightly,” Landon chimed in, his usual easygoing demeanor absent. “You’re walking into a trap, Bryce. And you’re taking Sable with you.”

“We’re setting the trap,” Bryce corrected, his voice firm. “Not the other way around.”

Colt straightened, his brow furrowed. “And what if it goes sideways? You think they’ll play fair? These are the hunters that slaughtered her pack, and if Rush is right, have killed others as well. And why an isolated cabin as a base? You’ve got the whole pack here.”

Bryce’s fists clenched at his sides, his wolf growling low. “I know the risks, which is why we’re not bringing the bastards to the ranch. We have a chance to end this—or at least this group.”

Landon exchanged a look with Colt before stepping closer, his tone softening. “We get it, Bryce. You want to protect her. Hell, we want to protect her, but you’re putting yourself in danger. And if something happens to you...”

“It won’t,” Bryce interrupted, his voice cutting through the air like a blade. “Because I won’t let it. I plan to be an old man sitting on this porch with my mate watching our grandchildren play… yours, too.”

Colt’s gaze didn’t waver. “You can’t guarantee that.”

Bryce met his brother’s stare, his expression unyielding. “I can guarantee I’ll do whatever it takes to keep her safe and make sure they don’t come here. That’s all that matters.”

Landon sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. “You’re stubborn as hell, you know that?”

Bryce’s lips twitched into a faint grin. “Part of the Savage DNA.”

The friction between them eased slightly, but their concerns lingered. Bryce appreciated their input—he always had—but this wasn’t up for debate. Sable was his mate, and stopping the hunters was the only way to ensure her safety.

As the evening deepened, Bryce found himself in the stables, where Sable was brushing down Ghost. The mare nickered softly, her ears flicking as Bryce approached. Sable glanced over her shoulder, her eyes sharp but softened by the warm light of the lantern hanging above.

“Done pacing?” she asked, her tone edged with both amusement and irritation.

“For now,” Bryce replied, leaning against the stall door. “Figured I’d check on you.”

“I’m fine,” Sable said, her voice steady as she turned back to Ghost.

“You don’t have to be,” Bryce said, his tone gentler. “Not with me.”

She paused, her hand stilling against the mare’s coat. “I’m not afraid, Bryce.”

“I know,” he said. “But this isn’t just about fear. It’s about trust.”

Sable turned to face him fully, her eyes locking onto his. “And you think I don’t trust you?”

“I think you’re used to relying on yourself,” Bryce said, his eyes steady. “And I don’t blame you for that. But this time, you don’t have to.”

Her jaw tightened, her fingers curling around the brush she held. “It’s not you I don’t trust. Rush and his men are your friends. I’ve never even met them.”

“Would you like to?” Bryce asked.

“Not necessarily.”

The bond between them pulsed in the quiet, an unspoken connection that made the air feel heavier, charged. Sable’s chest rose and fell with shallow breaths, her wolf stirring just beneath the surface.

“We make a good team, Sable,” he said softly with a wry grin.

Her lips twitched, the ghost of a smile breaking through. “Is this your way of trying to calm me down?”

“Is it working?” Bryce asked, his tone teasing but his gaze earnest.

Sable didn’t answer, but the way her shoulders relaxed was answer enough.

Later that night, Bryce and Sable stood in the ranch’s main house, a map spread across the table between them. Rush’s intel was marked in red, the locations of safe houses and known hideouts forming a loose web across the surrounding states.

“This is where we start,” Bryce said, pointing to a small town just over the border. “It’s isolated, but it gives us enough cover to make a move without drawing too much attention.”

Sable studied the map, her eyes narrowing. “And you’re sure they’ll take the bait?”

“They won’t be able to resist,” Bryce said. “They’ve already gone into hiding. If they think they can get rid of the people hunting them, they’ll come out.”

“And if they don’t?” Sable asked, her voice low.

Bryce’s gaze met hers, his expression resolute. “They will.”

Sable’s lips pressed into a thin line, but she didn’t argue. Instead, she reached for a pen, marking the route they’d take to the rendezvous point. Her movements were precise, her focus sharp, but Bryce could see the tightness in her shoulders, the flicker of doubt in her eyes.

“We’ve got this,” Bryce said, his voice steady. “You and me.”

Sable glanced up at him, her gaze softening. “I hope you’re right.”

“I am,” Bryce said, his tone firm. “And when this is over, we’ll make sure they can’t hurt anyone else.”

The promise hung in the air between them, a quiet vow that Bryce knew he would keep, no matter the cost.

Bryce stood on the porch as the moon rose high over Copper Canyon Ranch, his gaze fixed on the horizon. The night was calm, but his wolf was restless, pacing beneath his skin. The plan was dangerous and put Sable smack dab in harm’s way, but he knew he couldn’t exclude her. His brothers’ concerns echoed in his mind, but Bryce pushed them aside. He would protect her. He had to.

A faint sound drew his attention, and he turned to see Sable stepping out onto the porch. Her eyes met his, and for a moment, neither of them spoke.

“We’ll be ready,” she said, her voice quiet but resolute.

Bryce nodded, his gaze steady. “We will.”

The night stretched on, the silence filled with unspoken fears and unbreakable resolve. The trap was set, and the hunters wouldn’t know what hit them.

Tomorrow, everything would change.